James John Garrett, 4th from right in middle row

James John Garrett

Surname: Garrett
Other names: James John
Other people in this story:
George William Garrett
Emily Garrett née Jeans
Daisy Garrett née Brine
Locations in this story:
Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Twyford, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Cherry Orchard, Shaftesbury, Dorset
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury

Story:
James John Garrett was born on 19th December 1886 in the Parish of Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, the son of George William Garrett and Emily Garrett (née Jeans).  Apart from his army service James spent all of his life in and around Shaftesbury, Dorset. He attended Shaftesbury Grammar School, leaving in the summer of 1899.

James enlisted on the 20th December 1905 and joined the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry Reserves until the 22nd April 1908 when he enlisted further with the Territorial Battalion of the same regiment (Service No. 214), attending annual training camps.  He married Daisy Brine on 21st October 1913 at St. James Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and they went on to have at least five children.  James was embodied at the outbreak of war on 5th Aug 1914 (Service No. 927) and served throughout his time in the UK.  He was promoted to the rank of Corporal and then to Acting Sergeant but had to be released on a number of occasions during 1915 to assist on the farm, Grants Farm, Cherry Orchard, Cann.   He eventually opted to take a release from the Army as he had already completed the terms of his engagement and was discharged on 22nd April 1916. There are no medal records in this case. He returned to Grants Farm but by the 1921 Census had moved to Whitings Farm, Twyford, Shaftesbury, Dorset, as a Dairy Farmer. The 1939 Register shows him still living at Whitings Farm.  He died in The Westminster Memorial Hospital, Shaftesbury, on 13th May 1964 and was buried at St. James Church on 20 May 1964.

The "First List of Old Shastonians Serving in H.M. Forces" was produced by Shaftesbury Grammar School in September 1915. It shows the regiment in which James served and the date and term in which he left school. His name is also included on a hand written list of Shaftesbury Grammar School old boys serving during the war. The board is now at Gold Hill Museum.  

Source:  Photograph of Sergeant John James Garrett in the Dorset Yeomanry supplied by Nigel Garrett.  

Images:
  • Shaftesbury Grammar School 3
  • Shaftesbury Grammar School Old Boys 10
  • Shaftesbury Grammar School Old Boys 9
  • List of Old Shastonians 1
  • List of Old Shastonians 3

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives
Shastonian

Ivor George Ridout

Surname: Ridout
Other names: Ivor George
Other people in this story:
Charles Ridout
Hannah Sarah Wright Ridout née Stone
Elsie Ridout née Pickford
Locations in this story:
Stour Row, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Gore Farm, Margaret Marsh, Nr. Shaftesbury, Dorset
West Milton, Powerstock, Dorset
Wilkins Farm, Bozley Hill, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Stour Provost, Dorset
Poole, Dorset
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Mampitts Road, Shaftesbury

Story:
Ivor George Ridout was born on 7th May 1889 at Stour Provost, Dorset, and baptised there on 28th July 1889 the son of Charles Ridout and Hannah Sarah Wright Ridout (née Stone).  He spent his early life in and around Stour Provost and Stour Row, Dorset.  He enlisted on 8th April 1908 with the Dorsetshire (Queen's Own) Yeomanry Territorial Force, attending annual training camps (Service No. 227).  He was embodied on 5th August 1914 and appointed a Sergeant (Service No. 1061).  He served in the UK only and was given special leave on a number of occasions to help with the harvest work at his father's farm, Gore Farm, Margaret Marsh, Dorset.  He was finally discharged on 7th May 1916 having completed the terms of his engagement.  No medal records can be found for Ivor.   He had married Elsie Pickford on 14th April 1915 at West Milton, Powerstock, Dorset.  They went on to have three children.  By 1923 he was Farming at Pigeon House Farm, Stour Provost, and by the 1939 Register had moved to Wilkins Farm, Bozley Hill, Cann, Shaftesbury, still farming.  He died on 10th October 1968 in the Poole, Dorset, Registry District, his address being shown as 3 Mampitts Road, Shaftesbury.  He was buried in the Town Cemetery, Shaftesbury, on 14th Oct 1968.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives
PN411

Osborne Bernard Ricketts

Surname: Ricketts
Other names: Osborne Bernard
Other people in this story:
James John Charles Ricketts
Sarah Ann Ricketts née Broadway
Sophia Louisa Ricketts née King
Hubert Martin Ricketts
Locations in this story:
Culverhouse Farm, Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Sulva Bay, Gallipoli, Turkey
Sadden Farm, Burbidge, West Grafton, Marlborough, Wiltshire
Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Osborne Bernard Ricketts was born on 14th April 1892 in Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, and baptised there on 30th August 1892, the son of James John Charles Ricketts and Sara Ann Ricketts (née Broadway).  He lived most of his early life at Culverhouse Farm, Motcombe, where his father was the Farmer and attended Shaftesbury Grammar School, leaving in the spring of 1905. He enlisted on the 1st May 1908 and joined the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry Territorial Force, attending annual camps for training (Service No. 226).  (N.B. His military records are in the name of Bernard only.)   He was re-engaged on 30th April 1914 and embodied on 5th August 1914 with the rank of Corporal (Service No. 1058).  He was at Gallipoli, Turkey, and landed at Sulva Bay where he was severely wounded on 2nd August 1915.  He was invalided back to the UK on 9th October 1915 and discharged on 5th June 1916 having completed his terms of engagement.   He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/15 Star.   He married Sophia Louisa King on 24th April 1917 at Motcombe, Dorset. By the 1939 Register he was living at Sadden Farm, Burbage, West Grafton, Marlborough, Wiltshire, and was working as a Dairyman and Cowman.  He died in Marlborough in 1966.

Osborne Bernard's younger brother Hubert Martin (b.1896) died on 9th September 1915 while serving with the Dorset Yeomanry at Gallipoli.

A "First List of Old Shastonians Serving in H.M. Forces" was produced by Shaftesbury Grammar School in September 1915. It shows the regiment in which the brothers served and the date and term in which they left school. Their names are also included on a hand written list of Shaftesbury Grammar School old boys serving during the war. An asterix can be seen next to Hubert's name, indicating that he had died. The board is now at Gold Hill Museum.

Printed Sources:
Shaftesbury Grammar School Magazine, October 1915
First List of Old Shastonians Serving in H.M. Forces, September 1915

Images:
  • List of Old Shastonians 1
  • List of Old Shastonians 4
  • Shaftesbury Grammar School Old Boys 1
  • Shaftesbury Grammar School Old Boys 6
  • Shaftesbury Grammar School 4

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives
Hubert Martin Ricketts
Shastonian
St. James' Church

Robert Roy Gray

Surname: Gray
Other names: Robert Roy
Other people in this story:
George Gray
Hannah Elizabeth Gray née Wright
Alice Louisa Gray née Brickell
Frederick Percival Gray
Locations in this story:
Victoria Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Ireland
Gallipoli, Turkey
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury

Story:
Robert Roy Gray was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, in 1868 and baptised at St. James' Church on 26th July 1868, the son of George Gray and Hannah Elizabeth Gray (née Wright).  (A previous child called Robert had been born in January 1867 but had not survived.)  Robert married Alice Louisa Brickell at St. James' Church on 14th July 1888 and they went on to have eleven children, one of whom, Frederick Percival Gray (b. 1896), was killed at Gallipoli on 21st August 1915.   Robert had had previous experience with the Dorset Yeomanry.  He enlisted on 18th April 1918 but was not mobilized until 6th September 1918 when he joined the Somerset Light Infantry as a Private (Service No. 54998).  He was transferred to the 1st Garrison Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment from 5th December 1918 until his discharge on 24th January 1919 (Service No. 69393).  He had served in Ireland and there are no records of any medals being awarded.   By the time of the 1939 Register, Robert was living as a widower at 5 Victoria Street, Shaftesbury, described as a Retired Builder's Labourer.  He died locally in 1946.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives
Frederick Percival Gray

Walter Matthews Gibbs

Surname: Gibbs
Other names: Walter Matthews
Other people in this story:
Edwin George Gibbs
Mary Gibbs née Matthews
Mildred Mary Gibbs née Dare
Alwin Thomas Gibbs
Claude Ivor Bertie Gibbs
Lucius George Gibbs
Ada Prudence Gibbs
Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Gallipoli, Turkey
Egypt
Wootton Fitzpaine, Dorset
Bath, Somerset
Blynfield Farm, Shaftesbury
St. James' Church, Shaftesbury
Tisbury, Wiltshire
East Orchard, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
Walter Matthews Gibbs was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset in 1884 and baptised at St. James' Church on 17th August 1884. He was the son of Edwin George Gibbs and Mary Gibbs (née Matthews).    His siblings. Alwin Thomas Gibbs (b.1888) served in the 16th Lancers, Claude Ivor Bertie Gibbs (b.1897) served with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and Lucius George Gibbs (b. 1882) served with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment from the time of being awarded a commission in 1915.  Walter's sister, Ada Prudence Gibbs, served as a nurse with the Red Cross VAD at Tisbury, Wiltshire.  The family home was at Blynfield Farm, Shaftesbury, where Walter's father was the Farmer.   Walter had enlisted  with the Dorsetshire Yeomanry (Reserve Militia) on 7th February 1902 and attended annual training regularly, achieving the rank of Sergeant (Service No. 691).  He was eventually embodied on 5th August 1914, joining the 1st Battalion (Service No. 231) and serving at Gallipoli and in Egypt from 7th April 1915 until 29th April 1916.   It was announced in the London Gazette on 3rd June 1916 that he had been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) after he had already been discharged, having completed his term of service, on 8th May 1916.  At a very later date a certificate was issued on 7th May 1921 to the effect that he had also been Mentioned in Despatches.   He was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1914/1915 Star.  He married Mildred Mary Dare at Wootton Fitzpaine, Dorset, on 18th November 1919.  They went on to have three children. The 1921 Census shows he was living at Swainscombe Farm, East Orchard, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a Farmer.  Walter regrettably died at the Royal United Hospital, Bath, Somerset, on 30 May 1931 aged only 46 years.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives
Alwin Thomas Gibbs
Claude Ivor Bertie Gibbs
Lucius George Gibbs

Walter Stewart Genge

Surname: Genge
Other names: Walter Stewart
Other people in this story:
Walter Genge
Mary Genge née Antell
Elsie Genge née Sims
Locations in this story:
Shaftesbury, Dorset
Hawkesdene Lane, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Waverley Road, Bournemouth, Hampshire
France
Broadstone, Dorset
Branksome, Poole, Dorset

Story:
Walter Stewart Genge was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 1st September 1889, the son of Walter Genge and Mary Genge (née Antell).  He lived his early life with the family in Hawkesdene Lane, Cann, Shaftesbury.  He had had previous military service with the Dorset Yeomanry which was time expired.  He re-enlisted on 2nd September 1914 and joined the 9th Battalion of The Hussars Reserve Cavalry later joining the 3rd Battalion as a Private (Service No. 18335).   On the 28th February 1916 he was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry) and served with the 4th Squadron M.G. (Service No 41749).  He served in France from 25 May 1915 and was eventually demobilized on 10th March 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War medals plus the 1915 Star.   He married Elsie Sims on 11th October 1926 at Broadstone, Dorset.  It is not known if there were any children of the marriage. By 1928 the family were living at 152 Holdenhurst Road, Branksome, Poole, Dorset but by the 1939 Register Walter and Elsie had moved to 21 Waverley Road, Bournemouth, Hampshire where he was working for the Bournemouth Corporation in the Entertainments Department.    He died in Bournemouth in 1969.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives
Melbury Abbas and Zig Zag Hill

Richard Charles Mullins

Surname: Mullins
Other names: Richard Charles
Other people in this story:
Charles Mullins
Elizabeth Mullins née Lucas
Elsie Mullins née Greenwood
Locations in this story:
Cann Common, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Ludwell, Wiltshire
Grove Farm, Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Westminster Memorial Hospital, Shaftesbury, Dorset
France & Flanders

Story:
Richard Charles Mullins was born on 1st May 1895 at Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset and baptised there on 2nd June 1895, the son of Charles Mullins and Elizabeth Mullins (née Lucas). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Cann Common, Shaftesbury. He joined the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry as a Private (Service No. 560) but later transferred to the Royal Garrison Artillery (Territorial Force) as a Gunner (Service No.334552). During his time in the services he had been in France & Flanders. Following his discharge he was awarded the Victory and British War medals. He married Elsie Greenwood at Ludwell, Wiltshire, on 3rd April 1920 and they went on to have two children. Both the 1921 Census and 1939 Register show him living at Grove Farm, Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, described as a Dairy Farmer. He died at Westminster Memorial Hospital, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 8th September 1973 and was later interred at Melbury Abbas alongside his wife who had predeceased him in 1966.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives

George James Young

Surname: Young
Other names: George James
Other people in this story:
James Young
Emma Jane Young née Ricketts
Ernest Frank Young
Locations in this story:
Forest Farm, Motcombe, Dorset
Knoll View, Kilmington, Warminster, Wiltshire
France
St. Mary's Church, Motcombe, Dorset

Story:
George James Young was born in Motcombe, Dorset on 25 Nov 1893 and baptised there on 23 Jan 1894 the son of James Young and Emma Jane Young (née Ricketts). His family lived at Forest Farm, Motcombe. His brother Ernest Frank (b.1896) also served during the war, with the Somerset Light Infantry and the Labour Corps.

George enlisted in the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry on 6th December 1912, becoming a Corporal in due course (Service No. 422). He served in France and due to conditions in the field became disabled with Rheumatism. On 1st April 1915 he was discharged due to Myocardial Debility caused by his condition. There is no record of any medals being issued but he was awarded the Silver War Badge No. 116332. The 1921 Census shows him back at Forest Farm, Motcombe, now the Farmer due to the passing of his father in 1912. By 1939 he was living at Knoll View, Kilmington, Warminster, Wiltshire, where he was described as a farmer. He died on 13th June 1978 at Kilmington and was buried at St. Mary's Church, Motcombe, Dorset.

Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
Ernest Frank Young
The National Archives
Fontmell Magna Church

George Jesse

Surname: Jesse
Other names: George
Other people in this story:
Richard John Jesse
Mary Ann Jesse (nee Frampton)
Ida Mary Jesse née Dibben
Locations in this story:
Blackven Farm, Fontmell Magna, Dorset
Manor Dairy, Blandford, Dorset
Worthing, Sussex
France
Buckland Newton, Dorset
Lushes Farm, Manston, Sturminster Newton, Dorset
Hartgrove, Shaftesbury, Dorset

Story:
George Jesse was born in Melbury Abbas, Shaftesbury, Dorset on 9th September 1889 and baptised there on 27 Oct 1889 the son of Richard John Jesse and Mary Ann Jesse (nee Frampton). His early life was spent in the Hartgrove, Shaftesbury, area. He had enlisted on 8th June 1908 as a Territorial and joined the 2/1st Battalion of the Dorset (Queens Own) Yeomanry (Service Nos. 294 &1208) with attendance at annual camps.  He had been promoted to Corporal until the outbreak of WW1 when he reverted to Private.  Throughout this time he was farming at Blackven Farm, Fontmell Magna. He was mobilized on 4 Aug 1914 and on 21st May 1915 transferred to the 3rd Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 19532). He served in France from 21 May 1915 where he was severely gassed on 10 May 1917 and was repatriated to the UK.  On recovery he transferred on 9 Feb 1918 to the 609th Agricultural Company of the Labour Corps (Service No. 528403). He was demobilized on 5th March 1919 and was awarded the Victory and British War medals as well as the 1915 Star. He was also awarded a small pension due to the earlier gassing.  He had married Ida Mary Dibben at Buckland Newton, Dorset, on 26th April 1915 and they went on to have three children. The 1921 Census Shows him living at Lushes Farm, Manston, Sturminster Newton, Dorset, working as a Farmer. His last known address was 2 Manor Dairy, Blandford, Dorset, where he was now employed as a Dairy Manager. He died in 1972 (Registered at Worthing, Sussex). Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives

Charles Randolph Hiscock

Surname: Hiscock
Other names: Charles Randolph
Other people in this story:
Arthur Hiscock
Mary Sophia Hiscock née Williams
Mary Eileen Hiscock née Jesty
Locations in this story:
Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset
Shillingstone, Dorset
Cherry Orchard, Anvil Cross, Dunmow, Essex
Weymouth, Dorset
Manor Farm, Turnpike, Motcombe Road, Shaftesbury
Semley, Wiltshire

Story:
Charles Randolph Hiscock was born in Motcombe, Dorset on 15th July 1888, the son of Arthur Hiscock and Mary Sophia Hiscock (née Williams). The family lived at Manor Farm, Turnpike, Motcombe Road, Shaftesbury, Dorset where Charles assisted his father on the farm. He enlisted with the Territorial Force of the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry on 15th April 1908 attending annual training camps. After mobilization at the commencement of WW1 he served all his time in the UK and achieved the rank of Corporal (Service Nos. 896 & 219). Towards the end of his service he had two periods of temporary demobilization due to the need for work on the family farm. After completing 8 years service he was fully discharged on 14th April 1916 in order for him to return to his full time occupation as a Farmer. There are no medal records. The 1921 Census shows him living at Senior's Farm, Semley, Wiltshire, described as a Farmer. He married Mary Eileen Jesty at Shillingstone, Dorset, on 20th April 1927 and they went on to have one child. His last know address was Cherry Orchard, Anvil Cross, Dunmow, Essex, per the 1939 Register, where he was now working as a Farm Manager. He had later moved to 28 Links Road, Weymouth, Dorset where he died on 26th January 1968.

Source: Based on previous research by Ken Baxter.

Images:

Links to related web content / sources:
The National Archives